The Crime Branch CID (CB-CID) of the Tamil Nadu Police has registered a case following the circulation of an AI-generated deepfake video impersonating Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay.
During routine cyber surveillance, the CB-CID Cyber Crime team discovered a deepfake video on Facebook featuring Hindi audio and portraying the Chief Minister. The video was created and circulated on Facebook and other social media platforms with the alleged intention of deceiving people. It urged members of the public seeking financial assistance to contact a WhatsApp number.
Following the discovery, the Cyber Crime team submitted a special report on September 1, 2026, recommending action against the suspicious video. Based on the report, the CB-CID Cyber Crime Cell registered a case the same day and began an investigation.
The CB-CID also immediately contacted Meta, seeking details about the fake account and related logs. It separately requested that the fraudulent video be removed from the platform.
The preliminary probe found that several similar AI-generated deepfake videos depicting the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister offering financial assistance were being circulated on Facebook as well as other social media platforms. Investigators also found that many of these videos had been posted or shared through Facebook accounts that purportedly originated in Pakistan.
The investigation is continuing as authorities work to identify those responsible and ensure that the misleading content is removed from social media platforms as quickly as possible.
The Tamil Nadu Police has warned people against responding to phone numbers or joining WhatsApp groups shared through such fake videos. The police clarified that the videos are not authentic and have been fabricated by scammers using deepfake technology to deceive people.
Authorities have also urged members of the public to inform and educate their family members and relatives about such online scams to prevent them from falling victim to fraudulent schemes.
